Prime Minister highlights India’s FTAs are part of a broader mission to strengthen the economy

NEW DELHI : The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said about Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal explains that India’s FTAs today go well beyond tariff reductions, forming part of a broader mission to strengthen the economy and improve the lives of millions. He highlights that the India-New Zealand FTA is a historic milestone as it is India’s first women-led FTA. Almost the entire negotiating team comprised women.

In the article, the Prime Minister highlighted that India’s modern FTAs go beyond traditional tariff reductions and are designed to enhance market access, boost exports, attract global investments, and integrate Indian businesses—especially MSMEs—into global value chains. These agreements are aligned with India’s vision of becoming a competitive, resilient, and trusted partner in global trade.

Emphasising the government’s proactive trade diplomacy, the Prime Minister noted that India’s FTAs focus on new-age sectors such as digital trade, services, innovation, sustainability, and supply chain resilience. By opening new opportunities for Indian industries and workers, the agreements are helping create jobs, promote technology transfer, and encourage domestic manufacturing under the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.

The article also pointed out that India’s trade strategy is guided by national interest, ensuring fair terms for farmers, small businesses, and emerging sectors, while safeguarding strategic and economic priorities. The Prime Minister reiterated that well-crafted FTAs play a crucial role in positioning India as a reliable global growth engine amid evolving global economic dynamics.

Concluding the article, the Prime Minister called upon industry, exporters, startups, and entrepreneurs to leverage the expanding network of FTAs to explore new markets, enhance competitiveness, and contribute to India’s journey towards becoming a $5-trillion economy.